Nadal ousted after five-set US Open thriller

Rafael Nadal of Spain after a tie break miss to Lucas Pouille of France on day seven of the 2016 US Open tennis tournament in New York on Sept 4, 2016. [Photo/IC]

NEW YORK - Frenchman Lucas Pouille defeated 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal here on Sunday over five sets, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6), to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

"It took everything. I could not dream better than that," Pouille, the 22-year-old, said of his victory.

The match lasted four hours and seven minutes and it was decided by a fifth set tie-breaker. In the final-set tiebreak, Pouille held a 6-3 lead, with three match points on his racket before Nadal battled back to level it at 6-all.

"I was very aggressive all the match and at 6-6 (in the tiebreak) I didn't want to miss," Pouille said after the match.

Nadal then dumped his forehand into the net before Pouille struck a decisive forehand winner down the line on the next point to seal the victory.

"Last time I played him it was 6-1, 6-2," said Pouille. "When I was younger I used to watch all his matches on (Arthur Ashe Stadium) and now it's me, so I wanted to take full pleasure and enjoy it."